Trump’s order for OPEC to reduce prices is insulting – Iranian oil minister

Donald Trump has insulted OPEC member states by ordering the organization to reduce prices, the Iranian oil minister stated, responding to the US leader’s recent criticism of OPEC for keeping oil prices artificially high.

“[Donald] Trump sends every day a new message that creates uncertainty in the oil market,” Bijan Zanganeh said in an interview with Iranian broadcaster IRIB. According to the top official, the order issued by the US leader is “a great insult to [OPEC] governments and nations, and destabilizes the market.”

Zanganeh added that neither Iranian oil production nor its exports had changed as a result of US pressure.

Earlier this week, Trump lashed out at OPEC, accusing the oil organization of failing to help the US to reduce domestic gasoline prices. “The OPEC monopoly must remember that gas prices are up and they are doing little to help… This must be a two way street. Reduce pricing now!” the US leader tweeted.

The OPEC Monopoly must remember that gas prices are up & they are doing little to help. If anything, they are driving prices higher as the United States defends many of their members for very little $ ’s. This must be a two way street. REDUCE PRICING NOW!